Connecticut is set to enact a comprehensive gun control measure on Sunday, limiting the sale of handguns to three per person in a thirty day period and banning open carrying of firearms. The law has been met with legal challenges, but gun control advocates hope it will reduce gun violence in the state. Mixed reactions from gun rights and gun control advocates remain, as the long-term effects of the law remain to be seen.
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Twin Cities In Motion has canceled the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and 10-mile race due to record-setting heat and humidity, citing the safety of participants and the community as their primary concern. The National Weather Service has forecasted temperatures close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, creating "extreme and dangerous" conditions. Twin Cities In Motion is working to provide refunds and other options for those who had registered for the races.
At least 13 people were killed and several others injured in a fire that broke out in a nightclub in Murcia, Spain on Sunday morning. 40 firefighters and 12 vehicles were deployed to tackle the blaze, while police and emergency services worked to secure the interior of the club. The city council declared three days of mourning with flags flown at half-staff on public buildings throughout the region.
President Joe Biden has reassured allies of continued U.S. financial support for Ukraine, despite a short-term funding package that dropped assistance for the country. Congress passed a bill to keep the government funded until November 21, giving them more time to negotiate a longer-term solution. Biden urged Congress to act quickly to ensure the continued flow of American aid to Ukraine.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has announced his intention to file a motion to vacate the speakership of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) this week, citing McCarthy's lack of trustworthiness. The bill passed Saturday night did not include new funding for Ukraine, and McCarthy has said that those wanting more funding for Ukraine will have to give in on border security funding. This motion, if successful, would be a major shake-up in the House of Representatives, and it is unclear how it will be received by other members of Congress.
Saturday night's Powerball draw ended without a winner, pushing the jackpot past the $1 billion mark. This marks the fourth-most-valuable Powerball jackpot and the 32nd consecutive drawing without a winner. There were also two $2 million, multiplier-enhanced tickets, and five $1 million tickets won in the draw. Powerball is a lottery game played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with odds of winning the grand prize at 1 in 292.2 million.
On Sunday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in Ankara, Turkey, killing one assailant and injuring two police officers. The attack was condemned by the international community, including the UN and the EU, and the government has increased security measures in response. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put forward a resolution to extend government funding for 45 days, which was passed with the help of Democrats. This move was met with opposition from far-right Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, who threatened to oust McCarthy from his leadership position. Despite the challenge, McCarthy remained confident that he would survive, and the government was saved from a shutdown.